Orangeville Lions slip large sign in ‘under the wire’

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With a new sign bylaw on the horizon, the Orangeville Lions Club has been given the go-ahead to exceed even current standards.
The service club’s outdoor sports pad project is nearing completion at Brown’s Farm Park. On Monday (Nov. 26), club representatives asked town council for permission to erect a 16 by eight foot sign on the Diane Drive property in order to recognize the project’s many donors and sponsors.
Bill Theeuwen, SportsPad project chairman, admitted the proposed sign is large, but argued it suits the facility accordingly. The sign wouldn’t impede any of the neighbouring houses’ view of the sports pad itself.
“When you talk about the size, you think, ‘Wow it is huge’,” Theeuwen said. “But it really is quite proportionate to the facility itself.”
The town is in the midst of reviewing the rules and regulations found in its current sign bylaw. Vern Douglas, Orangeville’s director of building and bylaw enforcement, noted the Lions sign is about “twice the size” proposed changes to the bylaw would permit.
“This is getting in under the wire,” remarked Coun. Mary Rose.
Then again, Mayor Rob Adams reminded council that proposed changes to the town’s sign rules are nowhere near a done deal.
Proposed changes to the sign rules has become a controversial issue within Orangeville’s business community, and served to divide council as well. The town held an open house last week, and intends to host a public meeting in the future.
Once complete, the project headed by the Orangeville Lions Club will give local residents a place to play ball hockey, lacrosse, tennis and basketball, among other sports, at their leisure.
The Lions are proposing a ground mounted sign, rather than the roadside portable signs the town’s proposed bylaw seeks to restrict. In the end, council gave the Lions proposed sign the green light.
“It’s a big project. I think the Lions have a big heart,” said Coun. Jeremy Williams. “I don’t care how big the sign is.”